Crystal927

Had my surgery Jan. 25th at 340 as of today I am 218,I've never felt better!

I was banded today in Phoenix at a little past 7am. We had to get there at 5am for check-in and we were staying at a hotel about 30 minutes away so we had to get up at 4am.....that is very early. Especially early for someone who took her cpap machine out of mothballs and tried it for the first time in 2 years and couldn't sleep because it was tickling my nose hairs and pinching my face. I finally gave up and got to sleep around 2am.
Got to the hospital and did the paperwork. Hubby and 7 year old son were out in the lobby and hubby put a movie on the DVD player so he could watch it and stay quiet. The nurse told me they would take me back and my family could join me after they were done poking and prodding me.
This may be TMI, but of course I started my period 2 days before my surgery. They wanted me to get completely undressed and I told them I HAD to wear underwear. So they gave me these mesh panties and a brick sized pad. Well, let me tell you something, the mesh panties and not meant for big girls. I tore one pair before asking the nurse for some scissors to cut the sides a little or I would have no circulation.
I had to share the pre-op room with two other people and the nurse gave the woman in the middle the remote. She put it on the news and all they were talking about was the DNC and I am so sick of politics right now. i would have rather watched QVC!
They gave me a shot in my belly. It didn't hurt at first but the alcohol they used to clean it after burned like hell. After awhile, it kind of ached a little. Then they gave me my IV in my hand. It wasn't so bad. They gave me cute little socks with grippers on the bottom and the compression things for my legs but they said they would put those on right before. I was kind of bummed because I wanted to know what it felt like.
In the meantime, my son is getting upset because he didn't pay attention when I went back and didn't get to kiss me goodbye. He demanded to be back there with me and they eventually got to go back. Not sure why he was so nervous. Maybe it was the fact that my husband joked to our 7 year old son that they were going to carve his momma up like a christmas turkey? Men!
Finally, it was time to go back. I got my kisses and got a little choked up at leaving them. What surprised me was the fact that I kind of got freaked out as they were wheeling me into the OR. I actually considered telling them never mind! I just started praying and God took away my fear.
It was incredibly cold in the OR and the bed they had me move to was really uncomfortable. That is all I remember until I woke up from the anethesia. They asked me if I wanted tea, something or something and the only thing that I could stand was tea. They brought me warm unsweetened tea(which I usually like sweetened with something) but it was the best tasting tea I ever had! I do have a bit of advice though for them: Do not hand a patient who is high as a kite and not in control of her motor skills a warm beverage. I spilled more than I drank.
BTW: Doctor informed hubby I had TWO hiatial hernias. He was able to repair one but I will have to lose some weight for the other.
They made me go to the bathroom and get dressed and then walked me out to the front. It was raining and Hubby busted it in his haste to get the car but he was alright. Just banged up his knee.
Got home and didn't have to use the wheelchair we borrowed from the hotel at all. I just used it to kind of hold on to in order to keep my balance as I wanted down the hall.
I was not in that much pain. I have four incisions and one of them has a major bruise on it. It is later in the evening now and I am really sore like someone punched me but it is not intolerable. I was even able to go out to dinner with hubby and son and I had some broth from some tortilla Soup. We then went to Walmart!
Blessed be: NO GAS PAIN....yet. I felt what I thought was gas so I took a gasx strip but that was it.
Overall, I was pleased with my surgeon. It was sort of a wam bam thank you maam with not really a lot of fussing about but I kind of like that. I didn't really want to stay overnight and they said my surgery was perfect.
To top that off, when the nurse weighed me this morning, I weighed 289!!!! That means I lost 25lbs on my pre-op diet!
Believe me when I tell all of you future bandsters or even people just on a regular diet....if I can do it, anyone can!
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me.
Thanks for viewing and God bless!

My surgery day story......It is 7:45 in the evening on Tuesday, 2/21/12, and I had my surgery today!!!!!!! I wanted to blog about my experience while it is still fresh in my mind. First....I feel great, definitely sore, but nothing unbearable; my incisions look great, and I am so happy that I did this.
I arrived at the surgery center at 9:45 and did all the registration stuff...actually just signed a couple of papers, put on a Bracelet and waited to be called.
I was called very quickly (at 10:05) and put in a pre-op holding area where I:
1. gave a urine sample for a pregnancy test
2. changed into a lovely gown that tied in the back (nothing left underneath)
3. put on orange socks with grippies on the bottom and compression things for my legs
4. was given my party hat (lovely blue lunchroom lady style)
5. was weighed along with all other vitals
6. answered lots of basic questions...(allergies, meds, when ate last, who was with me, med history
7. given the opportunity to ask questions of my own
8. an IV was started with saline (and even a little lidocaine at the site to ease the stick)
9. at this point, my husband was allowed to come back and sit with me until I went to the OR
10. I was given several meds.....heparin shot in right arm, pepcid in IV, zofran for nausea in the IV, a steroid in the IV (can't remember the name, but that one had to go in really slowly and was given to held with inflammation) and Versed in the IV to help relax me
11. the waiting game then began...waiting for an OR to open up....this took a while and at this point, I kind of started losing track of time.
12. When we were almost ready to go back, my doctor, Dr. Gorjala, came in and met my husband and answered any questions that we might have had.
13. The Nurse Anesthetist came in along with the surgical nurse and wheeled me away to surgery.
In surgery:
1. I moved to the OR table (around 1:00)
2. Untied my gown
3. Covered with a nice warm blanket and had my compression thingies on my legs hooked up.
4. put on a pulse oximeter and three leads on my chest to monitor my heart rate during surgery
5. put on an oxygen mask and was given some oxygen to breathe while we waited to get started
6. Ready to start surgery, I was given the anesthetic agent. It felt warm going into my body and took seconds to kick in.
7. Next think I knew, I was in the Recovery Room
In Recovery: (around 2:15ish)
1. My vitals were monitored very closely and I was encouraged to take nice deep breaths of Oxygen.
2. It seemed to me as if I woke pretty quickly with everything and everyone coming into focus (NO NAUSEA)
3. Finally able to talk and keep my eyes open, my nurse moved my bed into a more upright position and gave me some Water with a pain pill (omg...that was the best water!)
4. It did not take long at all, and I was out of recovery and moved back into another area of the surgery center
In my final location of the surgery center:
1. My IV was removed and my surgical scars checked (I have 2 and they look great)
2. I was given a cup of juice (yummy)
3. My husband got to come back (My Dr. had already spoken to him about the surgery results)
4. I got up and got dressed, got my discharge papers and was wheeled out to the car; I still felt very groggy but was able to dress myself with my husband helping me not to lose my balance...
5. I left the surgery center at 4:00, so in total, I was in their care for 6 hours and a good chunk of that time was spent waiting on an OR to open up.
I came home and went straight to bed. My pain is not at all what I expected; it is much better and the gas has actually been less that I expected also. I've also had no nausea at all. I got up at 7:00 pm and walked around for a bit and feel really good.
Overall, my experience was fabulous....everyone I encountered was so great, helpful and informative I was treated fabulously and just couldn't be more pleased with my day....the first day of my journey to a new me.....

it is very possible, i was a size 28 and now a size 8. i went from 385 to 155. i get rid of the clothes when they get to big as to never have to wear them again. i did keep the size 28 just as a reminder..lol

Completely possible....and I would know! Started out at a tight 28!! And now I fit in a loose 6!
In fact, look at my avatar. That is me at a size 6 with my 28s on.

I couldn't get the BA brand down either. I used another brand with the same calories and Protein and I suppliment with Myolpex Carb Lite when needed (made by EAS). We added a banana and ice or strawberries and ice. Find a combo that works for you and stick with it. You can do it!
My husband also decided to come on the shake journey with me and now 11 days post-op he's on the mushy foods (and did the liquids too). He's lost 25 pounds so for. I go for my official first weigh in tomorrow tomorrow morning.

Congratulations!!!! thats amazing for just 2 months! WAY to GO!
I haven't been banded yet, in month 2 of my 6 month physician supervised deal for insurance, but I couldn't be more excited! I too, am 29...soon to be 30 next month EEEeeeeeeek!

Congratulations!!!! thats amazing for just 2 months! WAY to GO!
I haven't been banded yet, in month 2 of my 6 month physician supervised deal for insurance, but I couldn't be more excited! I too, am 29...soon to be 30 next month EEEeeeeeeek!

I need 2 more months too its been going so slow for me lol

Yep, the pain med will be liquid. Also get some children's Tylenol just in case you need it- I was off all pain meds pretty quick.
I second KRussell- I wish I had taken measurements, but I do have full body pictures- in tight exercise shorts and a sports bra- yes, even at 284 lbs. At first I did them about once a week, now it's about once a month. It's fun to go back and look, I can't tell much of a difference until I look at the pictures (other can really tell, it's harder for me!!)
As for the pill thing- I do the chewable Vitamins too, but do have a bigger L-Lysine that's not chewable, but I can break it in half (it's scored) and even with about 10.5 cc's in my 14 cc band I can swallow the half no issue. Just make sure from the pharmacist that any pills you take (I know none now, but in the future or for antibiotics, etc) that you can cut them or get them in a liquid form.
Nicki

Nice job Jen!! Keep up the good work! I'm down 42 lbs also, in about a month and a half.

Another thing... if you are on any medications, you may want to either get a pill cutter or talk to your doctor if it is a larger pill to see if there is a smaller size alternative. I am on BP meds and the pill is fairly large. I cut it into 4's.

well this isnt really a helpful band tip but one thing i wish i would have done the night before my surgery is measure myself!!! and took lots of full body pics so i could have some for comparison now. I think it would be really nice to be able to see how many inches i have lost from my hips and waist and bust line but i was nervous and totally spaces it off!! plus i always used to make sure that my pics where from the chest up because i was embarrassed so i really have no full body pics to compare to now.

Hi, the hardest thing for me to get used to and accomplish is, drinking a gallon of Water a day between meals. I can't drink 1/2 hr. before meals and an hr. after but in between I have to drink a gallon. I had my surgery 6/19 and have not reached the full gallon yet.
When I go to restaurants, I order a regular meal but get a container to take home right away. I seperate the portion that I know I can eat and box up the rest right away. Avoids overeating and when you get home you can usually get a couple of meals out of the leftovers depending on the restaurants portion sizes.
I exercise everyday but I do my upper body with light weights one day and the next day I do my walking and lower body exercises. This way here I won't be sore all over and don't feel overwhelmed. Hope I helped a little!

Really good ideas, ones ITA!!! For me, the not drinking with meals and the eating small small bites, chewing thoroughly and eating SLOWLY were so hard! I had thought to try it before being banded, but didn't do it, and it was an adjustment. I still get "first bite syndrome" where I don't chew that first bite quite enough and feel tight/mini stuck. I'm working on it, though.
I really second the walking - especially right after surgery after you get home, and for the next days. It REALLY helps with the gas (they pump you full of gas for ease of moving around your guts). Also, start an exercise program- even if it's just walking, or carving out the 30 minutes or whatever, just to start making it a habit.
Good luck, I am a very happy bandster, lost over 70 lbs in 6 months- I was banded on 1/26/12. I do follow the rules, and exercise and eat solid Protein and avoid slider foods. I'm in it to win it!!!!
Nicki

It sounds like you pretty much got it all under control! I don't really have any regrets for pre-op. I also stopped soda and started to try and drink more Water. My best advice for post-op is WALK! WALK! WALK! As soon as they will let you, get up and walk and when you go home, keep walking! The hardest thing to do is get into exercise when you haven't done it on a regular basis for years - well, I hadn't anyway. =) Working out 3 days a week for an hour will nearly double your weekly weight loss. If you have a smart phone there are a few apps that will help you out. "My Band Fill" is great for keeping track of your fills. There is one called "BodyShot" that lets you keep track of weight and photos for each weigh in, then view them side by side, and you can even email or text them to people. "MyFitnessPal" is a good one for calorie counting and keeping track of exercising. They also have a website if you would prefer that. Those have all come in handy for me post-op. The other thing I did was buy a pedometer. Well, it's more like a pedometer on steroids. Haha. It's called the fitbit. It keeps track of all kinds of daily stuff and even your sleep pattern. It helps me to ensure I'm walking a good amount and helps keep track of calories as well. Hope that wasn't too much info for you! Oh, one more thing! 99% of restaurants will honor the LapBand discount and allow you to order a kids meal at a ridiculously cheap price! Just make sure you get the card from your doc after surgery saying you have it. Good luck and keep us updated!

*Sorry, I should have clarified, I am one week POST-op. I had it done on 7/25. Good luck to you!

I found lots of real chicken Soups broth at Fresh N Easy grocery store and also Trader Joes that taste homemade and in cleare state. They also have beef noodle clear brith and a shrimp broth. Very tasty.